To wonder how schools can realistically reopen when there is still a killer virus about with no vaccine?

[JustCantShakeIt]

I’m not talking about them reopening now, in May or June or even September.

Who is prepared to send their DC into a school with hundreds of other DC, where social distancing and keeping a germ free environment is literally impossible, even with the best wills in the world, when there is a life threatening disease floating about which is highly transmittable and you have no guarantee it won’t make your DC severely ill or die.

Social distancing just between parents will be impossible at my DC’s school of over 500 where we all have to wait outside the main gates at pick up time.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m desperate for schools to reopen before my DC turn completely feral, but I don’t see how that can happen until we have a vaccine. We’re being told to stay home and keep our distance now due to the risk, the risk will be the same next month or in 5 months won’t it?

I think we'd find that a lot of teachers would be fully prepared to go back to work IF they were provided with adequate protection.
I've been into work several times, looking after children of front line workers with absolutely nothing to protect me.

How can staff who work at Boots (for example) , with payment shields, face masks and face shields, and observing social distancing have such protection but those of us who work with unhygienic children have absolutely nothing?

And yes, children are inherently unhygienic, it's not an insult, it's a fact.

Routines for the start and end of day, playtime and lunchtime are set up such that social distancing is maintained at all times, by all members of the school community

So do you mean if KS1 don’t return to school?

CleanUpWoman

It’s equally bad at secondary. I teach in a tiny classroom with less that a foot between each double desk.

30 “kids” - many of whom are the size of grown ups.

The corridors are less than 2m wide.

The surfaces are all plastic, glass, metal.

It’s physically impossible to socially distance and I have no idea how you’d stop surface transfer.

Have you signed the NEU letter?

HoffiCoffi,

As I hoped my last line makes clear, I think it is as unlikely that those things will happen as that all WHO's 'rules' on when a country might exit lockdown will be met before the |UK comes out of lockdown...

I would just like evidence of some kind of risk assessment and mitigation by someone who knows what the inside of a school looks like....

@Grasspigeons I think education does play a huge role in the economy allowing a workforce to work and creating the next generation of workforce

Funding into education should be looked at as much as the NHS from this

I work in a school of 725 primary aged children. Effective social distancing is impossible.
We previously could not get a handle on controlling spread of the common cold or norovirus, how we are supposed to do that with a virus that is many times more infectious, I don't know.

I would just like evidence of some kind of risk assessment and mitigation by someone who knows what the inside of a school looks like...

This.

Oh ffs...another one...

It’s physically impossible to socially distance and I have no idea how you’d stop surface transfer.

Then let an NQT take on that risk and you go on furlough indefinitely.

No? Don't want to take that financial risk?
Fair enough, but don't call the ones who are currently risking losing their income the selfish ones.....

Heck, no, I'll go back if someone who really understands schools shows me a well-worked through plan that takes my safety even vaguely into account...
Another vote for this

Don't be so stupid Tastyfingers, there are not enough young teachers to make up for older (and, possibly, less liable to be bullied into accepting unsafe conditions) ones, along with all those considered vulnerable and anyone who gets a bit of a cough.
I'd settle for full PPE and one of those plastic screens they've put up in shops now. Well maybe a plastic booth would be better.

Heck, no, I'll go back if someone who really understands schools shows me a well-worked through plan that takes my safety even vaguely into account

Just like the nurses who've refused to do their jobs (which keep society going) without PPE.

Oh no...wait....they haven't have they?

Then let an NQT take on that risk and you go on furlough indefinitely

Um. How would that work? Where are you getting the NQT and how is bringing a total stranger in the best idea for the already very unsettled children? Do you have ANY idea how many classes of children react to not knowing the person teaching them?

No? Don't want to take that financial risk?

Ummm...I didn’t actually answer your question. I’ll wait until you’ve cleared up my questions.

Fair enough, but don't call the ones who are currently risking losing their income the selfish ones....
Where have I done that?

To answer your question: January 2021

The plastic screens are actually quite dangerous Onceateacher. I've got a really nasty cut from one, in normal times I'd have probably gone to get some stitches, as it is, ten days on it's still very sore and open. I might not have breathed on anyone but I certainly left a lot of blood behind. It's a strange old world when the blood is less scary than the breath.

Do you have ANY idea how many classes of children react to not knowing the person teaching them?

Don't they get this every new academic term?

there are not enough young teachers to make up for older (and, possibly, less liable to be bullied into accepting unsafe conditions) ones, along with all those considered vulnerable and anyone who gets a bit of a cough.

There were over 500,000 volunteers for the NHS. I was one of them. I knew that I'd likely be risking my life. I was willing to do that. I'd be willing to take on teaching if I were able to, too. I have no doubt that there would be takers for this, too.

For anyone vulnerable/afraid, I think that there should be options. But they should be the options that are currently available for those unable to work due to lockdown.

Fair enough, but don't call the ones who are currently risking losing their income the selfish ones....
Where have I done that?

I wasn't saying you personally have done that. But plenty have.

Just like the nurses who've refused to do their jobs (which keep society going) without PPE

This is a travesty. Medical staff should not have been put in this position. That is not an argument for putting another group of workers in the same position.

In short, teachers - shit or get off the pot.

Medical staff should not have been put in this position

I agree. It's a travesty. One that this government should answer for.

But they fucking cracked on with it anyway, didn't they?

I was going to reply to you again Tasty!but you’re not discussing in good faith, are you.

Hope things work out for you.

Good luck with the volunteer teacher army, Tasty I actually think you might have volunteers for week 1, but week 2?!

Makeitgoaway I've heard it said on the news that people aren't seeking assistance with "normal" ailments and injuries and this could be worse in the long run - keep an eye on that hand!

A lot of the clapping for those NHS and other key workers seems very hollow. It’s evidently ok for them to takes risks with their lives commuting on packed transport and working non stop with covid patients or staff buses and supermarkets.

While heaven forbid people who are young and well (and will face much lower risk) should go back to school and work and save the country from poverty and longer term ills. Do people not realise how hypocritical this all is?

As I said - take furlough and make way for the ones willing to take the risk. We'll support you. We'll be there to keep things going.

But don't block the way for us.

Do you have ANY idea how many classes of children react to not knowing the person teaching them?

We’ll probably the same way they’d react to someone sitting in an apron, gloves, face mask and in a plastic booth I’d imagine.

In short, teachers - shit or get off the pot
Fuck off, Tasty.